Showing posts with label Julius Caesar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Julius Caesar. Show all posts

Saturday, March 17, 2012

BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH


La Morte di Cesare di Vincenzo Camuccini è un quadro che si trova a Roma nella Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna

Since I was scheduled for a medical test on the morning, I did beware the Ides of March, but the test result was good, so I bewore (bewared?) for nothing, but how was I to know?  For the rest of the day, I was a bit groggy from the anesthesia and took no note of the ides.

Actually, 'beware' has no past tense because it is a so-called defective verb.

As for Caesar, he should have paid attention to the soothsayer.
Caesar:
Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue shriller than all the music
Cry "Caesar!" Speak, Caesar is turn'd to hear.
Soothsayer:
Beware the ides of March.
Caesar:
What man is that?
Brutus:
A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
PS: The ides refer to the approximate middle day of the month and thus do not necessarily fall on the 15th day.  I did not know that until today.

Image from Wikipedia.